Lakers’ Westbrook reality as ‘dream scenario’ over; contender to ‘blow it up’: NBA Rumour Mill
Russell Westbrook seems to be like he shall be staying put with the Lakers whereas there are two groups to maintain an in depth eye on forward of the commerce deadline.
Here is all the newest commerce chatter within the NBA Rumour Mill!
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LAKERS’ WESTBROOK REALITY AS ‘DREAM SCENARIO’ FADES
When this season tipped off, it regarded more and more probably that Russell Westbrook can be on one other group sooner quite than later.
Moving Westbrook on was going to be a difficult proposition although given his huge contract whereas his commerce worth was additionally nonetheless low.
Now although, with Westbrook bettering in his new position off the bench, it’s as a substitute trying just like the 34-year-old shall be staying put on the Lakers for this season.
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That is in accordance with The Athletic’sSam Amick, who reported on Friday that the times of Westbrook being considered as the principle cause for the group’s struggles “appear to be over”.
“And that welcome development, it appears, has shifted the Lakers’ focus during this trade season that is just getting started,” Amick added.
“… There’s also a strong sense that the Lakers believe Westbrook’s contributions will only improve from here.”
Also contributing to this growth is the truth that it seems the Lakers are near giving up on the hope of a real difference-maker changing into accessible earlier than the February 9 commerce deadline.
“There’s always a never-say-never qualifier to trade stories this time of year, but the other element in play here is that the Lakers’ dream scenario — a star player becoming available in these early months — is still nothing more than a fantasy,” Amick added.
“Whether it’s DeMar DeRozan or Zach Lavine in Chicago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City, Bradley Beal in Washington or other players of that ilk, there is no Anthony Davis-esque scenario emerging like the one Lakers benefited from when he asked out of New Orleans in the summer of 2019.”
Instead, the Lakers have turned their consideration in direction of Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanović and New York’s Cam Reddish and Evan Fournier.
Westbrook’s match does nonetheless stay a problem however there may be little doubting he has been extra productive since changing into a sixth man, averaging 15.2 factors, 7.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds and three.8 turnovers.
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‘HOPING THEY FALL OFF’: THE ONE TEAM EVERYONE IS WATCHING
Meanwhile, one group to observe forward of the commerce deadline is the Toronto Raptors, in accordance with Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.
In his newest commerce intel, Pincus claims that rival groups are hoping the Raptors “will fall off and focus on building a new core around second-year forward Scottie Barnes”.
“The number of teams interested in their players is too long to list,” Pincus added.
It has been an odd begin to the season for the 13-15 Raptors, who would have had excessive expectations for his or her squad, which charges as some of the versatile within the league.
Scottie Barnes has bumped into sophomore struggles whereas Fred VanVleet’s uncharacteristically poor taking pictures has been a headache the Raptors hardly wanted.
Meanwhile, one supply informed Bleacher Report final week that VanVleet and OG Anunoby are two gamers rival groups are maintaining a very shut eye on.
“The timeline of their players don’t match,” the supply stated.
“They have good players, but it will be interesting to see how they navigate with OG [Anunoby] and Fred [VanVleet].”
The newest report although claimed Gary Trent Jr. is the one participant who could also be accessible in commerce talks forward of the deadline.
Trent has an $18.6 million participant possibility this offseason and Toronto is but to make a transfer to increase him, with one supply telling Bleacher Report, “I don’t think they want to keep Trent.”
Raptors coach Nick Nurse solely final month touched on Trent’s struggles on the defensive finish whereas chatting with media.
“It’s disappointing,” he stated on the time.
“We’d like to get him a lot more aggressive on defence this year. I would say that’s been… it’s been a little bit of a negative. He’s capable of really getting after the ball and getting his hands on the ball a lot, and that’s what we want him to do.
“We’re going to get him his shots and get him his points, but we want him to be a disruptor. He kinda fits us if he does that, and if he doesn’t, he doesn’t fit us. We need to get him back.”
Otherwise, current experiences appear to recommend Trent may very well be expendable.
THE FALLEN GIANT WHO COULD ‘BLOW IT UP’
Another group to maintain an eye fixed in accordance with experiences is the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls have been one of many largest disappointments this season, presently sitting in eleventh within the Eastern Conference with a 11-16 report that places them two wins forward of the Magic.
Chicago could have given up lots to commerce for Nikola Vucevic forward of the 2021 deadline however it’s trying more and more probably that expectations now should be reassessed.
While the Bulls reportedly have little interest in buying and selling DeMar DeRozan, he nonetheless stays a helpful asset and there are solutions the Lakers have mentioned a transfer for the five-time All-Star.
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The Lakers additionally reportedly have curiosity in Vucevic, who’s within the remaining yr of his four-year, $100 million contract and set to develop into an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season.
Bill Simmons steered the Lakers and Bulls may very well be logical commerce companions on his most up-to-date podcast, with L.A. nonetheless in win-now mode whereas LeBron James stays wholesome.
NBA reporter Zach Lowe, in the meantime, added that he had heard that the Lakers have had “internal discussions” a couple of doable transfer for both DeRozan or Vucevic.
“The trade I saw on Twitter was Russ and both picks, one with light protections I think for DeRozan and Vucevic,” Lowe stated on his podcast.
“I can tell you 100 percent for sure that the Lakers have had internal discussions about that very possibility, if it would ever come up. Not that they would do that. Let me be clear.”
Should Chicago look to start out a rebuild, it’s extremely unlikely Vucevic will earn a brand new deal, with Yahoo Sportsreporting there haven’t been ongoing contract extension talks between the 2 events.
Meanwhile, Bleacher Reportsteered the Bulls may very well be one candidate to “blow it up” within the close to future, with the commerce deadline telling in what path the franchise is heading.
“Several teams hope the Bulls look at their roster as a dead-end endeavour,” Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote.
“Is Chicago going to re-sign pending free agent Nikola Vučević this summer? Or will the franchise cut its losses and embrace a rebuild?
“The Lakers have interest in DeMar DeRozan and Vučević, likely for two future first-round picks (and Westbrook). It’s unclear if L.A. would also want to bring back Alex Caruso.”
